Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge The triumph of experience over hope

I've just spent the last two weeks looking for a TBA that I can ride.
Most were badly looked after...some were vile, all were way overpriced.
The dealers were indifferent, the salesmen knew nothing about the bikes.
Sorry, Triumph.... I walked into a ( say it softly) Harley dealer....test ride no problem... there and then......bike went very well...price was right and they'll deliver it on Monday.
Sorry to say it, but I bought a Switchback.
Given my total experience with Triumph dealers, sorry but they're poor....
I've still got some cash left so will buy myself an early TBA soon....
Sad to say, they haven't got a clue about customer service at Triumph.
Al

I've purchased a few new Harley's over the years, and they typically have lots of inventory of parts, accessories and bikes. The triumph dealer where I live, has few bikes and less accessories. But, I like the look of my Triumph, and the performance of my Road Star, so I deal with not getting great service or available options.
You should enjoy the Switchback, they're nice looking bikes.

Thank you...I guess I'll just have to live with the guilt.... Seem to cycle between Triumph, Harley and Moto Guzzi ........but I will be now looking for an early TBA...with the intermediate starter gear fix, natch.
Al

What can I say ?
Oh well.My mates ALL seem to enjoy their Harleys.There are SO MANY of them they must.Every man and his dog etc.
I only had one, a 1974 1,000cc ironhead sportster good looking for the day but reliable as a stopped watch[Correct twice a day].They've come a long way since then [luckily]

I totally understand. But it's not just Triumph, poor attitude and service is endemic to the cycle industry. I'll give HD one thing, they DO seem to believe in what they sell and while HD arrogence often turns me off, at least they are passionate. I've said it before, if car dealers treated their prospective and return customers like bike dealers, there wouldn't BE an American car company!

There's quite a lot of earlier TBAs and Speedmasters going for pretty reasonable prices here.Better prices by far than the older Meriden Bonnevilles,Trophys etc.
IF I had some dough,that'd be what I'd buy and do a big bore etc.
of course that's no help to you in the UK .

Yes, here in the Colony's you can find all kinds of used TBA's for scary low prices. The Triumph mid size cruiser line has terrible resale value, as opposed to the Bonneville roadsters which hold their value very well. My thoughts are that the Mid size cruiser market is flooded with good used bikes, When the average guy is looking for a mid cruiser Triumph gets overlooked. When you think Triumph you tend to think Bonneville, I still get folks who do not even know that Triumph makes an America cruiser.

My proffessional association raffles a Harley off each year. Last year it was a switchback. Since the winner lives in my County, I was asked to halp deliver and present it.
The winner was a 60ish woman who planned to sell it, but asked to go for a ride before we put it into her garage.

I took her for a spin, and the bottom end weight distribution was so unusual, I was hoping to return her to her home without laying it down.

I hope you enjoy yours, but that quick ride confinced me the Swithback isnt my cup o' tea.

Sorry to hear about your bad Triumph dealer experiences. When I hear these stories I'm just thankful for my dealer, they don't all suck.
Enjoy your new scooter and stay safe. Hope you'll keep hanging around.

It's too bad the dealer network for Triumphs is in such a state. With only 4 authourized dealerships in Ontario you either have to live close to one, which limits exposure, be so committed to the line that you "take a chance" and buy hoping it won't break, or rely on your skills to perform all maintenance and purchase with some sort of confidence in your own abilities which sadly shouldn't be the case. I've had to live through a series of failures with my America that would have forced a rider to take the bike "into the shop" to repair. Can you imagine a 6 to 7 hour ride in a trailer to service a broken bike? At least Harleys have dealer distribution and with the 'higher than average' problem rates (at least from what I hear from owners in my area) with their bikes, get a lot of practice fixing them. Harley mechanics become experienced quickly. Triumph ones don't causing them to learn on YOUR bike when sh_t happens.

Sorry folks, I didn't wish to cause any offence by buying a Harley......in fact my choice saddens me ......I'd rather be riding Triumph- honestly- but I will not live with the shoddy after sales service and indifference of the dealers.....its not necessary and its frankly arrogant on their part....I have a choice of where and how to spend my money and I've exercised that choice
I think for me the clincher was when they outsourced their warranty claims dept.....that's a decision which speaks volumes about their commitment to their customers......
Al

No offence, just kidding around.Modern HD seem to be much better than they used to be and have even moved the tech into the mid 20th century rather than the early 20th century as used to be. My only real beef with HD is I think they are over priced. They have good dealer networking and good service as far as I have ever seen.Parts and accessories are readily available and plenty of trailers if you are planning a long ride. They actually make a device to add miles to your HD while it is on the trailer! That is truth not joke or fiction! Remember 99 out of 100 Harleys ever made are still on the road today! The other one made it home.

I am lucky to have a great dealer who I know personally since I used to deal with his parents when they owned the shop. They sold Triumph through the 60s and up until they stopped importing them here. They sold parts and serviced Triumphs there after and now sell them again. I do miss the old mom and pop shop his parents ran. The show room is now where his dad used to keep his collection. Hermy and his parents are good people, RIP Carol, his mom, she was the person I used to prefer to deal with as Hermy Sr. used to forget things!

I know what you mean......I've run Moto Guzzis for many years and the service was personal and enthusiastic.....I'd still like one but my wife says she can't stand to see a man cry and throw spanners about.
I still visit one of the Guzzi independents , but as a friend rather than customer these days...anything I own lives outside so I can't do unreliable any more.
I'm not blind to HD faults and I hate the hype....but I've also covered big miles on them too.....
However I'm still looking for another TBA...sometime this year will do it.
Al

My current Triumph is the 2nd most trouble free bike I ever owned, my 64 BMW being first.

Big fan of older BMW's too......mine were the /6's....from early '70's......had 4 in a row......about 200k miles in all....
Al

Mine is an R50 with Earls front end.

Ive got an 02 America that is absolutely trouble free, I must add that I've bought 2 new Harley's in my life and they both have been bullet proof as well. Nobody builds junk any more.

I hope you get yourself together and get a good America with the dough you have left over Al.

Will do so....though this time, no dealers!
Al

Yes,I can only put the "Harley thing " down to a temporary[I hope]lapse in sanity.

I occasionally buy a UK magazine,"Classic Bike guide" IF the issue features TRIUMPHS.
Who says I'm obsessive?
Anyway,they occasionally have an America or Speedy advertised second hand in the classifieds so that may be a source for you?

My best friend of 50yrs rides a Harley,so I'm not REALLY prejudiced.It's the bullsh-t that goes with Harleys that turns me off.
He's put LOTS of miles on that bike.
He has had a few problems, such as a design feature were it'll apparently cut out the rear cylinder if the bike's getting hot in traffic.
His was cutting out intermittently on the road.He spent ages trying to trace the fault with the dealer which in the end turned out to be a irregular faulty thermostat worth $40.
Sometimes these new bikes try to become too smart for their own good.
Funny, but now I think about it, people say that about me too!I often hear myself described as,
"Oh that smart-arse! He's too smart for his own good"

Seems like the customer service in England is like it was in 1980 when i emigrated to the States---NON EXISTENT---- Typical English mentality," you ought to be thankful we sold you a bike". Well i've been living here most of my life and there is "Bugger ALL" over there for me. SO i'm staying in the good ole USA. where we don't take S H I T from anyone!!!

Well Desmond,as you came from Manchester, I certainly agree there's nothing to be back there for.

That "English mentality" is the reason I won't fly British Airways.I haven't for 40 years.I don't include the Scots and Irish,the ones I've met have been terrific.

I will still take a Triumph in preference to a Harley though.

I'm surprised the Triumph service people in all these dealerships haven't been to Triumph service school, my dealership sends them to both BMW and Triumph school.

EDIT, That said mistakes can still be made.

By and large, the training in customer relations seems non existent....or maybe they actually train them to be indifferent and arrogant..... that's even scarier.
But whatever the causes, its been a consistent feature of almost all my dealings with Triumph shops....the exception being Jack Lilley in London who have stood out as being knowledgeable and helpful.
I guess maybe they haven't had the official Triumph training or something .......
Al

I've got to say here too.The Triumph dealer has a dose of arrogance.
I spoke to one in Sydney and the lady I spoke to was great.
The local one that since gave up Triumph was VERY good too.A shame they gave the dealership up.
Go and see them carrying a claymore and see how polite they become.

As an aside I went riding today and was cruising at around 120kph[70 mph] and used 9 litres for 160ks[about 50 m.p.g. imperial]I was quite pleased with those figures.